June 4, 2013 - St. Louis, MO - In response to resident input at this year’s budget hearings, President Lewis Reed will announce Friday his intentions to change funding recommendations to better reflect citizen priorities. President Reed will make his remarks at the Penrose Park Velodrome, a long neglected cycling track in north St. Louis and the focus of resident calls for capital investment, at 1:00pm.

Reed’s announced budget recommendations will respond to resident calls for expanding crime prevention efforts, improving delivery of core city services and creating new opportunities for citizen participation in the budget process.

Redevelopment of the velodrome in Penrose Park is a priority project with broad resident support. This racing track is one of only 27 of its kind still in existence in the United States and the only one in the state of Missouri. It attracts cyclists and spectators near and far who come for weekly races. The velodrome is a great asset to the region and the City of St. Louis. President Reed is prepared to recommend funding the costs of capital improvements to make the track safe this fiscal year.

“Here we have a group of residents from all parts of the city coming together, using their own time and resources to breath life into a blighted, ill-maintained city-owned recreation facility,” said Reed. “That’s something we should be rewarding at City Hall.”

“In every neighborhood I visit I hear residents asking for basic services, getting the trash picked up, buildings boarded and the grass cut, and for greater opportunities for our young people,” said Reed. “These are issues on the hearts and minds of residents and must be our priority at City Hall this year and every year.”

As for calls for ‘participatory budgeting,’ Reed is open to ideas and optimistic that residents will see greater transparency and increased engagement in the near future. “We know that when we don’t involve residents, we miss an opportunity to exchange ideas and get feedback on programs and services, on what’s working and what isn’t,” said Reed. “At the end of the day, we make better decisions when residents have a seat at the table.” The event starts at 1:00pm, all are welcome to attend.